Another Obama oasis for Aloha State?

While demands to see President Obama’s Hawai’i birth certificate continue to be numerous enough to prompt a bill to allow state officials to ignore repeat requests, other island legislators are trying to promote a new way to capitalize on his connection: a presidential library.

The passage of sweeping federal health care legislation understandably overshadowed the Monday vote by the state House Tourism, Culture and International Affairs Committee approving a resolution to ask Obama to designate Hawai’i as the site for his future presidential archives.

The resolution would be mailed to Obama if it’s approved by the full House, which appears likely because 47 of 51 representatives signed on to it. Even several Republicans are supporting the effort.

The story goes on to note that Hawai’i “will likely have to compete with Illinois, Obama’s other home state.” (Hmm, you think?)

If Illinois does eventually nab the Obama library, Hawai’i representatives are full other ideas to recognize the president’s island ties, including creating a state holiday (on his Aug. 4 birthday or Jan. 20 inauguration anniversary), renaming public schools in his honor and turning an empty lot near Obama’s very first home in Hawai’i into a park bearing his name.

But hey, if they’re successful, it would be a more august landmark to visit than his favorite Zippy’s, more welcoming of drop-in visitors than the private Punahou campus, and hopefully a lot more attractive than the Punahou Circle apartment building where he lived with his grandmother from 1971 to 1979, which state legislators said last year they’d like listed on the National Register of Historic Places.